A/N: Hey?! I'm not sure what happened but the chapter's back up! Oh, and the song is ANKLEBITERS by Paramore.

-Winter'sFangirl

Annabeth

"Carol causes your nightmares, doesn't she?"

"Y-yeah, she does," I answer sheepishly. "How'd you guess?"

"It's always something bad. At least, from my experience." So he's had other girls come to his room crying in the middle of the night? I must be making a face, because he clarifies. "From my own experiences."

This is newfound information. Very surprising information, at that. "You get nightmares? What for?" Oh gods, that was a crass thing to say. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

Percy raises an arm. "It's fine. Well, you know how my mom died?"

I don't. I know she died, but I don't know when or how, and I tell Percy such. "Oh. Well, I was about five. Car accident. I was... In the car with her..." Percy's shaking, and he wraps his arms around himself like he's trying to stay in one piece. "And it just replays over and over. She... Saved me. A truck..." He's blinking back tears, and it makes me wonder. For as helpful as he is with dealing with demons, Percy hasn't managed to get rid of his own. How many people have tried to help him? I wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't mentioned it.

"And after the first few weeks, my dad wasn't much for emotional comfort." Oh gods. Percy didn't jus loose his mother; his father shut him out, too. What must it have been like? I grab his hand and squeeze, the universal symbol of comfort.

"It'll be okay, Percy, alright? I promise." I send a reassuring smile. Percy gives a small smile back. We sit quietly, holding hands. I'm comforting him in the only way I know how.

"Annabeth?" He asks. "Would... Would you sing to me?"

"Sure. Any particular song in mind?" Percy shakes his head. "Okay?" I've got a song in mind, so I hum the first few notes.

"Why do you care what people think?

Are you hooked up to their leash?"

Percy hums along.

"Why do I defend the state you're in?

You should fall in love with yourself.

Someday you're gonna be the only one you've got.

Someday you're gonna be the only one you've got.

Why you wanna please the world and leave yourself to drop dead?

Someday you're gonna be the only one you've got."

Once I finish, Percy looks me in the eyes me says that I'm lying. "That won't happen. I'll always have you, Annabeth."

I merely nod, unsure of what to say.

Percy

"1 need to go," Annabeth says after a few minutes. "Before Thalia comes looking for me."

"Fine," I say, pecking her lips lightly. "See you at breakfast."

Annabeth leaves, and I go to my bathroom and turn on the water. It helps,when the feelings get to be too damn much.

After I shower and get dressed, I feel completely rejuvenated. I need to propose an idea to Annabeth, one that I think she'll like. Dad wants us to get along. I'll have to see him later and ask a favor.

I meet Annabeth at the end of the hall. She's changed into jeans and a deep purple blouse, and is standing outside Thalia's door.

"Hey," I say. "She not up yet?" Annabeth shakes her head and knocks again.

"Thalia! Get up, lazy ass!" Still no reply from inside the room.

We share a look. "Is she dead?" I ask. Annabeth sends me a glare, but then shrugs.

"Not sure. I don't think so-" She turns the doorknob and quietly swings the door open.

Thalia's definitely inside, but she isn't awake. Her room's dim, shoes and clothes strewn everywhere. This place is a death trap. On her nightstand there's a binder and a notebook. Why would Thalia need a binder? I go to pick it up when Annabeth snatches it quickly.

"What's that?" I ask. Why's she grabbing it? Maybe it's Thalia's diary or something.

Annabeth tosses it ontohe side of the bed. "Oh, that? Nothing, really. Very private. Thalia..." I sneeze Annabeth's hesitation. Is she hiding something? What would she have to hide? "Thalia writes stories." She... What?

"Oh." I say simply. "That's... not what I expected. Thought it was her diary or something."

"Nah." Annabeth crouches by Thalia's head, and shakes her arm rapidly. "Thals!" She hisses. "Thalia! Get up!"

"Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!" I chime in. There's still no response. "Y'know, I think she's dead."

"Nah. She's done this before, though usually she's awake by now." Cupping her hands around her mouth, Annabeth starts screaming. "THALIA GRACE! GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUT OF BED RIGHT NOW!"

Grace? Thalia Grace? She wouldn't be any relation to... No, that's impossible. Grace is a very common last name. If anything, they're probably third cousins or some such. But then again... The eyes are quite similar. Zeus had a crazy girlfriend that disappeared about 18 years ago. Some Hollywood starlet, had big hair. What was her name...

"Percy!" Annabeth snaps. "Help me-" she grunts. "Help me get her up." The second we get her into a sitting position, Thalia wakes and goes insane.

"What the-" I say as her fist connects with my face. There's screaming, flailing limbs, and curses.

"Get off me! What the hell do you think you're doing? Can't a person get any sleep around here? Get out! GET OUT!"

With that temper, she has to be related to Zeus.

Annabeth grabs my wrist and we scramble to escape the Dragon's cave. After Thalia slams and locks the door in our faces, a stunned Annabeth and myself collapse onto the hallway floor. "What the heck? You'd have thought we killed her grandmother! Were you trying to get us killed?"

Annabeth seems to be in a state of shock. "She's never... Thals has never done that before. I don't... I don't understand."

"Maybe she's just pissed. I'm sure it wasn't personal." My mind wanders back to Zeus as we get up. "Hey, Annabeth? By chance, what was Thalia's mother's name?"

Annabeth

Her mother's name? How is that relevant? Hesitantly, I answer. "Darla. Why?"

What is Percy thinking?

I can't believe he almost read the escape files. The plans had disappeared from my brain. They were forgotten, but now they're back. Little thoughts and ideas, the plans concocted late at night. They're all back, and as the wedding draws closer they take up more of my mind. I can't ignore my promises.

The wedding. Shit, I'd duped myself into forgetting that, too. For the past weeks, I'd been ignore all of my duties and plans. I was a normal teenager for once in my life. I had friends, I had Percy. Everything was so perfect.

But then here's that damn file again. All the drama with my relatives is brought to the surface of my mind, too. And I'm pissed.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be sold into marriage. Didn't ask for my mom to die and my dad to replace her with a witch. Didn't ask for nightmares out the wazoo.

But maybe Percy's been good for me. For the second time this summer, I remind myself that he didn't want me to intrude in his life, either. And he isn't a horrible person; in fact, I really like him.

Doesn't mean I want to marry him. I don't want to marry anyone. Maybe in five, ten years. But not now.

The first chance I get, I'm meeting with Thalia and Luke to tell them- the escape is back on.

I've lost sight of what my goals were. From now on, until we leave, I am not in lo-

I do not like Percy Jackson.

Percy

Darla Grace... That was the name of Zeus' ex fiancée/girlfriend. The crazy one that disappeared. Is Thalia Jason's sister?

What does this mean? Is Thalia aware of this? Is dad? Does Uncle Zeus even know she exists? Probably not, otherwise he'd have approached her. Wouldn't he?

Jason doesn't know, of course. He'd have said something about it.

If news of Zeus have an illegitimate daughter were to come out... The press would have a heyday. Hera would throw a hissy fit, and the whole family could face ruin- society doesn't like it when major figures have random kids show up.

Thalia

Gods, I'm so tired. I've only had about three hours of sleep, so I either need to sleep 'til noon or drain six cups of espresso. Rubbing my temples, I shakily manage to stand.

I shouldn't have yelled at Annabeth, but gods know at I am a force to be reckoned with when I haven't gotten my sleep. After slamming the door in their faces, I sit down and rub my temples. There are voices, in the hall. What are they saying?

"Were you trying to get us killed?"

Oh, Prissy. It wasn't that bad. Stop being a wimp.

Curious, I tiptoe to the door and sit, afraid to breathe in case they were to hear.

"She's never..." Annabeth sounds upset. Add that to the list of things I've screwed up. I shouldn't have yelled at her. She doesn't take well to being screeched at, and we had a silent agreement: I didn't yell at her, she didn't drink.

I can't make it what Percy says in reply, but his tone seems comforting. At least there's someone there to fix the damage.

"What was Thalia's mother's name?"

My mother's name? Why does he want to know... Oh my gods, I should've given him more credit. Percy knows who my dad is.

Things are about to go into deep shit, real fast.

Then again, maybe he doesn't know. Maybe he only suspects. Maybe Annabeth won't tell him.

But no. She does. But she's not stupid, and asks why. I'm silently parting for him to answer her, to answer me, but at the same time I want him to keep quiet.

But Percy doesn't answer, and I'm left wondering just how perceptive he is. But I know now that Like and I need to be much more discreet in planning. I shouldn't have left the binder out. Someone touched it. Someone LOOKED THROUGH IT. I'm hoping that someone is Annabeth, because otherwise this could come crashing down.

Percy

After breakfast, I go to see Dad. I need to see abut stalling Annabeth's parents for as long as I can. The nightmare fiasco will keep continuing until they've come and gone.

I know Annabeth says they aren't that bad, but I know her. She's a proud and independent person, and I wonder how long it took her to come find help. How long she argued with herself, or will argue with herself, over waking me. I need her to see that I don't mind, not a bit. Hell, if she has so much as a stubbed toe, she can find me to help her reach the bandaids.

I knock lightly on the door, and wait for the cue to enter. "Dad?" I call after a few seconds.

"Come in, Percy. It seems we have something to talk about."